Artist Home
From OpenSimulator
Contents |
Content Collections
Collections containing many different kinds of resources.
- Zadaroo.com: Everything from skins and animations to complete sims as OAR files.
- Giessen Opensimulator Projects: Several kind of objects mostly under CC.
Artist Documentation
This page contains information about content creation for OpenSimulator including best practices, guides, tools, examples, collaborative projects and of course Creative Commons licensed content.
Discussion group for people interested in creating content for Metaverse: Open Content for Metaverse
Some useful resources of free material:
- A great summary sheet: 3DCG for the hobbyist -- useful products and links
- A hobbyist animators blog with all kinds of goodies: cgspeed
- A source for free animations, 3d models, textures, etc.: ShareCG
- A huge 3d graphics source: Renderosity
- Runtime DNA: www.runtimedna.com Free Downloads
- Lots of free, full perm content here: LindaKellie.com
- OpenGameArt is an exceptional repository of permissively licensed content for game creation.
This is not an exhaustive list, please add to it if you can!
I have tried to include sites which have free Poser/Opensim compatible content which could be used for "personal use" in your own "world". You must check the licensing for any commercial uses.
Textures
Textures are images used to cover surfaces of 3d models and terrain. Textures can be anything form 1x1 to 1024x1024 images. Most of the textures for buildings, items and clothes are usually 512x512.
Best Practices
Guides
- Creating tileable textures: http://www.gfxartist.com/features/tutorials/740
- Creating and Using Shadow Maps by Robyn Huffaker
Tools
- GIMP - GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program.
Examples
Projects
Content Libraries
- Torley Textures is a collection of over 600 textures by Torley Linden.
- CGTextures Some Great free textures (CC License)
Models
Models are 3 dimensional objects which are formed from faces and textures. OpenSimulator supports three types of model: parametrized primitives, and sculpted primitives, and uploaded vertex mesh files.
Parametrized primitives can be created in world with build functionality. Sculpted primitives are defined by a special bitmap image which can be created with 3d modeling programs which support sculptures. Mesh files can be created in many 3d modeling programs such as Blender, 3DS Max, Maya, etc. Note that while mesh support within viewers is becoming more ubiquitous, it is not universal.
Generally speaking, parametric primitives are best suited for simple geometric objects and for allowing collaborative in-world building. They are by far the most reliable and understood of the three formats. However, primitives contain a great deal of extraneous geometry used to enable their parametric behavior (in-world building/deformation with sliders).
Sculpted primitives are ideal for creating organic shapes (such as trees, body parts, sculpted surfaces) when you want to be sure of backwards compatibility. Unfortunately, they have a high amount of geometric detail which cannot be altered by the creator and can be difficult to texture properly.
Mesh files are excellent for experienced content creators, especially those coming to OpenSimulator from other 3d platforms. When correctly utilized, they can have as much expressiveness as sculpted primitives and more efficient geometry than parametric primitives. The learning curve for mesh file creation is somewhat steeper, and there is more ways to get in trouble using it.
Best Practices
Guides
- Learn to Make Second Life Sculpties in Blender by Robyn Huffaker
Tools
- Blender - Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.
- Wings 3d - Sculpty editor
- Qavimator - Animation for OpenSimulator avatars
Examples
Projects
Content Libraries
Terrain
Currently OpenSimulator terrains consists of heightmap and textures for different directions and heights. OpenSimulator terrain can be imported in raw terrain format from several terrain editor tools.
Best Practices
Guides
Tools
- L3DT
Examples
Projects
Content Libraries
Additional Terrain Resources
TERRAIN EDITING
There is now a Plugin made and available for the free program GIMP by Domino Designs which is easy to install and allows you to bring in RAW files and edit them. See http://dominodesigns.info/project/gimpterrain
GIMP is available free and downloadable at http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ GIMP is available for most Operating Systems and Platforms and is User Supported with many features and functions far beyond Terrain Editing.
REFERENCES / SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES amd APPLICATIONS: Tweaking Tutorial: Creating OpenSimulator terrain with Blender http://www.stringofbits.net/2009/09/tutorial-creating-opensim-terrain-with.html
Some free and some non-free terrains at http://www.rexxed.com/category/terrain
Tutorial on creating terrain files with Terragen as well as using Photoshop to edit terrain files and create megaregion terrain with a library of free terrain files
Spinmass Virtual Creations, has two products for terrain making and generation which are free downloads. Look at Terrain Sculptor and Bailiwick. They are available from http://www.spinmass.com
Three easy to use Online Image Splitters
- http://www.chami.com/html-kit/services/is
- http://www.sliceimage.com
- http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/online-image-splitter
Sounds
Sounds clips can be used within (scripted) objects and as part of gestures. Current OpenSimulator sound formats are PCM WAVE (.wav) 16-bit/44.1KHz/mono or stereo with a maximum length of 10.00 seconds.
Best Practices
Guides
Tools
- Audacity - Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
Examples
Projects
Content Libraries
- The Freesound Project - The Freesound Project is a collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds.
Music
Music can be played via parcel media as either streamed or from a single music file.
Best Practices
Guides
Tools
Examples
Projects
Content Libraries
- Jamendo - Jamendo is a community of free, legal and unlimited music published under Creative Commons licenses.
